June in British Columbia means many wonderful edibles are popping up in our gardens. This salad showcases fresh and tender butter lettuce with sweet-as-candy local strawberries. Try this light and lively combination!
Yield: Serves 4
Preparation Time: About 20 minutes
INGREDIENT LIST
- 5 strawberries
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 head butter lettuce
- ½ cup toasted hazelnuts
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Food processor or blender
- Measuring spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
- Spatula
- Small cake pan
METHOD
- Hull the strawberries and place in a food processor.
- Add the vinegar and puree. Add the olive oil through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, until the vinaigrette is smooth. Season with salt. Place in a small bowl.
- Place hazelnuts in a small cake pan and bake in a preheated oven (350 F) for about 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Separate the lettuce leaves, wash and dry.
- Place a few lettuce leaves on a plate and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Garnish with a few toasted hazelnuts.
Tasty Tip
- If you are on a picnic, drizzle the vinaigrette on a lettuce leaf, roll it up and eat it with your fingers. These are summer rules that don’t apply at the dining room table!
SKILLS
STEP-BY-STEP – BUTTER LETTUCE CUPS WITH STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE!
STEP 1
Gather your ingredients. We used toasted sliced almonds instead of hazelnuts. Use what you have!
STEP 2
Slice off the stems of the strawberries.
STEP 3
Put the strawberries into a small food processor.
STEP 4
Add the wine vinegar and puree the strawberries and vinegar until smooth.
STEP 5
Slowly add the olive oil to the machine as you blend. It will emulsify and thicken into a lovely coloured vinaigrette.
STEP 6
Don’t forget a good pinch of salt!
STEP 7
Add your washed and torn lettuce leaves to a large serving bowl. Did you try a taste of the butter lettuce? How would you describe it?
STEP 8
Drizzle the lettuce with some vinaigrette and add the nuts. Toss it all together. Try a piece of lettuce to see if more vinaigrette is needed. Enjoy!
STEP 9
For a fun finger food idea, try drizzling a bit of vinaigrette onto a lettuce leaf and sprinkle with a few nuts. Roll it up and bite in!
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